How to Store Potatoes? A Detailed Guide to the Latest Technical Methods

The potato is the common potato we eat in our daily lives. Our country consumes a very large quantity of potatoes every year, so the potato planting area is still very large now. However, sometimes when the potato yield is too large, it cannot all be sold at once, and at this time storage work needs to be done well. So how should potatoes be stored? Below, the editor brings you the new potato storage technology. Let's take a look!

1. Storage Characteristics

After harvesting, potatoes will enter a dormant period. The dormant period is about 3 months or so, mainly determined by differences in variety. After potatoes enter the dormant period, the respiration capacity of the tubers weakens, and nutrient consumption is not much either. So the environment will not have too great an effect on potatoes. Even if the surrounding environment is favorable for sprouting, the tubers during the dormant period will not sprout, and usually they only begin to sprout after passing through the dormant period. Under long-term light exposure, potatoes will cause the tubers to change color and produce a toxic substance. Therefore, potatoes should not be exposed to light during storage.

2. Storage Environment

The suitable storage temperature for potatoes is around 4°C. When storing potatoes, be sure to control the temperature well; the temperature should not be too high or too low. If it is too high, potatoes are prone to sprouting and losing their edible value. If it is too low, the starch in potatoes will begin to convert to sugar. If the potatoes are to be used to make potato chips or French fries, then the temperature should be controlled at around 12°C. Then the humidity should be maintained at around 82%. Humidity control is also very important. If the humidity is too high, potatoes are extremely prone to rotting. If it is too low, they are prone to water loss, increasing losses.

3. Storage Methods

Trench Storage

After potatoes are harvested, place them in a ventilated and cool room and pre-store them for about half a month first. The stacking height must not exceed 50 cm, and ventilation and light avoidance should be done well. If using trench storage, then the time should be around October each year. First dig a trench about 1 m deep, with the width controlled at about 1.2 m, and the length determined according to the storage quantity. When the potato tubers are piled to about 20 cm from the ground, cover the potato tubers with soil, with the soil cover thickness maintained at about 80 cm. As the temperature changes, do the covering work in batches. The potato tubers should not be piled too high, otherwise the temperature in the middle rises and they are prone to rotting.

Cellar Storage

Potatoes can also be stored in cellars. For cellar storage, the storage quantity must be controlled well, with the storage quantity per cellar controlled at around 3200 kg. Because cellar ventilation can only use vents to regulate temperature, its insulation capacity is relatively strong. However, in the early stage of entering the cellar, its temperature is not easy to lower. So be careful not to store too full. Also be careful to open and close the cellar entrance properly, and in winter be careful to lay in straw curtains.

The above is a brief introduction to the new potato storage technology. Potato storage technology is relatively simple, but be careful to prevent rotting. That is all for today's introduction. This article is for reference only, and I hope it can help everyone!